The Dawson journal., 1887-01-20
Is SHE SHIELDING HIS MUIR
DERER2

A Young Woman's Avowal of a Mur.
der Which the Community Dlscredits
A charge Of murder is pending
In Jefferson county, Ca, against
q young woman, Miss Elvira Ivev,
In which it has been found impos-
slble 30 far to secure conviction.
The story was told to the world
at the time the crime was commit
ted, but will bear repetition.
Miss Ivey was at one tina highly
esteemed In the best society OF
that part Of the State, bat an in
discretion caused the doors If
most of her former friends to be
closed against her. Monday,
Dacamber, IS, 1884, a suit to com.
pei Solomon Jones to right, oy
marrying her, the wrong she al.
legged he had done her, was to be
tried. Bat on the Sunday morn,
ing preceding thu daal body of
John McCauley, one OF the
waalthiest farmers of Warren.
was found under the yindow of
Miss Lvey's room, with a bullet
hole in the temple. In his left
hand Was clutcaed bunch OF bank
bills amounting to more than
$500.
Miss Ivey, in accounting for the
murder, alleged that McCaaley
Was friend Of Jones'; that he
had visited her 80 induce her to
withdraw the charge she had made
against his friend. To accom-
plish this he had avowed pas
sion for her, showed her his roll
OF bills and urged her to fly to
Texas with him. Hiss Iyey re.
minded him of his duty to his
wife and seven small CHILDREN.
With an oath MoCaulsy declared
she should elope with him or die.
At the same time he made mo-
ton to enter the window, when
Miss Ivey fred. He released his
held on the window and fell back
dead. This was the story she
told her father and srother, who
were brought to the spot by the
sound Of the pistol. To them she
declared it was a plot to save
JONES in the approaching trial.
A package of lsttsrs from her,
the authenticity OF which was es-
tablished, was found in McClu-
ley's possession, which contradict
cd much of the girls story. These
listers covered mora than a year
preceding the murder, and were
contemporaneous with her intima-
cy with Jones. She had written
in the most endearing terms to
McClnley, and in one, not dated,
supposed to be the last, assent
was given to the proposition to
hy to Texas, ana the night upon
which tho killing took place was
designated as the tina for the
flight. 1t was vel. known that
McCauley was not on speaking
terms with Jones, owing to their
rivalry. Why Miss Ivey killed
MCKINLEY instead Of flying with
hirn is the mystery Of the case.
The theory which has the most
aiherents is that M3Cauley was
that night by Miss Ivey;
that the noise OF passing articles
through the window vakened a
third party; that this third per-
son, seeing q man in an improper
place, fired fn. killed him, AMI
that Miss Iyey assumed the crime
to shield the slayer. If this theo-
ry is correct, that third party
would probably be Miss Ivey's
brother. She denied strenuouslv
that he had anything to do with
it. ard insisted that she fired the
fatal shot herself, The letters
she had sent weakened her plea
Of self defense. Sac has had one
trial with no resalt, ana is now
awaiting another. Two terms Of
the court have postponed the case,
An Old Citizen Speaks.
Mr.. ] NJ. Norris,an an old resident
n ~ . AI--L L. III